A brilliant stonewalling effort from Harvinder Singh Sodhi and AmayKhurasiya helped Madhya Pradesh salvage a draw against Railways on thefinal day of their Central Zone Ranji Trophy clash at the KarnailSingh Stadium in Delhi today. Khurasiya’s second century of the matchwas the undoubted highlight, the India discard adding an unbeaten 118to his first innings effort of 105.Railways enforced the follow-on as expected this morning afterestablishing a first innings lead of 242 yesterday. In the 17th overof the innings Murali Kartik struck by bowling opener Jai PrakashYadav for 12 with the score at 20. That was to be the lone success forRailways on an otherwise frustrating day.Sodhi and Khurasiya batted through the remaining 70 overs as MPfinished the day on 189/1. Sodhi’s 50 (253 balls, 6 fours) lasted fiveand three quarter hours while Khurasiya’s 262 minute effort was rathermore enterprising, coming off 216 balls and including 12 fours and 2sixes. Railways picked up five points and MP three from the drawnencounter.

Karen Rolton had already established herself as one of the dominant figures of the CricInfo Women’s World Cup but in the space of just 20 overs against South Africa today she made an indelible mark on the tournament.The Australian left hander must have been listening to the groundstaff when they described the pitch at Lincoln University’s BIL Oval as a belter. From the moment she arrived with Australia 20 for one in their chase for 170 to the moment she left on 107 not out with the game won, she put bat to ball in an array of shots that left the South African field and the privileged crowd gasping.This was no slog fest. Each shot was appropriately chosen for the ball, hit with power and placed with precision. Few of her 17 boundaries came from shots in the air. For all that the South Africans ran and dived themselves into the ground, they could not contain the onslaught. And when a diving fielder did parry the ball away to safety from the boundary, Rolton and her partner in crime, Belinda Clark, ran four. It was that sort of day for the South Africans.The class of her century was such that it seemed almost incidental that it was reached off a world-record 57 balls. The quality belied the speed of the execution. At the other end, Clark was given the ideal opportunity to play herself back into the form that has been eluding her during the tournament. The Australian captain was much the junior partner but produced plenty in her 49 not out to signal that she is back.The pair put on 50 off 58 balls, 100 off 81 and 150 off 123.The South Africans were left to shake their heads. As their coach, Rodney Willemberg, said after the game, his top order had batted well. “They proved that they can score runs.”Linda Olivier (34), Daleen Terblanche (22), Anina Burger (44), Cindy Eksteen (46) ensured that the Australians would face what on any other day might have been a competitive target. Certainly not one that they would be expected to pass in the 25th over with just one wicket down.Even then, Charmain Mason and Cathryn Fitzpatrick with a late brace apiece ensured that the 180 plus that the South Africans had looked likely to achieve was reined in to 169, supposedly something for which the Australians would have to work.Well, one did. Said Willemberg: “When you come up against Rolton in that form . . . . ” A shrug of the shoulders said it all. The South African coach did say, in one of the very few allusions at this tournament to the men’s game, that there was hardly a men’s side that could have dealt with Rolton.”That’s one of the best knocks I’ve ever seen. It was awesome.” And that from the opposition.Talking to CricInfo about the innings, Rolton said she did not come into the match feeling something special was about to happen. “I just wanted a good hit out after scoring only 17 in the previous game.”She was still coming to terms with the innings. “It all happened so quickly.” And she was not aware of the record until after the game, even with the previous record-holder keeping her company in the middle. Clark had held it with a century off 64 balls against Denmark in the 1997 World Cup.More important to the new record holder was getting out of the game with a win. That was all the more important because they expected to face South Africa again in the first semi-final on Monday.”They’ve had a look now and will be that much harder to beat for it.”What is scary for those still to face the world champions is that she believes that they are only now hitting top form. “We will need to be to go further.”But referring again to “that innings,” she mused: “It was just one of those days. Tomorrow could be quite different.”

Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes have been awarded new contracts by South Africa’s United Cricket Board after reversing their decisions to leave the Test arena.However, it is likely that they would only appear in Test Matches in the event of injuries to other players.The pair had told the board that they only wanted to be considered for One-Day Internationals but have now accepted that it would be difficult for the UCB to contract players just for limited-overs games.Rhodes told South Africa’s Mail & Guardian: “To simplify matters I haveagreed to the UCB’s request to make myself available for Test cricket onceagain.”I would like to reiterate that I am not returning to Test cricket but thisdecision is to help the UCB solve certain issues that have arisen with myprevious decision to be available only for the one-day version of the game.”After suffering a succession of injuries in recent years, Donald ended his successful spell in England with Warwickshire and was viewing the 2003 World Cup as the finale to his career.But now both he and Rhodes have made themselves available for Test matches – but only as a last resort.One player who has not been awarded one of the 12-month contracts is Daryll Cullinan after he decided to sign for Kent, so making himself unavailable for the series against Zimbabwe.UCB chief executive officer Gerald Majola said: “When he comes back from Kentwe will discuss his future in South African cricket.”The players handed one-year contracts by the United Cricket Board are:Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Paul Adams, Nicky Boje, Allan Donald, BoetaDippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Mornantau Hayward, Justin Kemp, Jacques Kallis,Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Andre Nel, Mfuneko Ngam, MakhayaNtini, Justin Ontong, Jonty Rhodes, Roger Telemachus.

Host Canada scored a four-wicket victory over USA in a warm-up matchbefore ICC Trophy gets under way Thursday.The event is a passport to the next World Cup, with three of the 24ICC Associate member countries competing in the tournament gainingautomatic entry to the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. These willinclude both finalists and the winner of the qualifying final.In the friendly game between the two North American sides, USA scored196 for nine in 50 overs with Canada reaching the victory targetlosing six wickets in the process. Meanwhile, Canadian CricketAssociation finalized arrangements for the World Cup qualifyingmatches.Cricket officials said here that countries have been ranked and willbe split into two divisions, one to 12, 13 to 24, and there will betwo rounds of matches. At the end of the second stage a league will beformed based on the combined points achieved from previous fixtures.Teams in first and second place contest the final, while third andfourth play in the World Cup qualifying final.The final and a number of other round matches will be played at theToronto Cricket Club. Other venues will include the Ajax, Malton,Maple Leaf CC; G. Ross Lord and Sunnybrook grounds, all of which arewithin the Greater Metro Toronto area and within a 60 minute drive ofthe City Centre.Officials said Italy’s World Cup ambitions have already been overridden by an International Cricket Council ruling that four of itsleading players were ineligible to compete. The respective passages ofNepal, West Africa and the United Arab Emirates were far from smootheither; visa problems promoting a flurry of late diplomatic activity.Nonetheless, everything is now set in place for a spectacular andsuccessful event.”The rankings have been formulated. The schedule has been unveiled. 22days in the midst of an increasingly warm Toronto summer have been setaside,” said an ICC official.He added: “An infrastructure has been made to measure and 10 grounds,replete with turf pitches which have been crafted in oftenunsympathetic conditions, have been beautifully prepared.”

Kent County Cricket Club today announced the coaching structure that willguide the Kent team to the end of the 2001 season. John Inverarity’sshort-term contract as Coaching Adviser is drawing to a close but hisexpertise has produced some excellent performances by the Kent team, layingfirm foundations for the future.John will be handing over the reins of the First XI to Chris Stone whojoined the Club’s coaching staff in March 1999 and in his short time at theClub has demonstrated his commitment to Kent’s young players. Alan Wellswill Captain the Second XI and Daryll Cullinan will assume the role ofDevelopment Coach, encouraging the development of the Kent Young Cricketersquads as well as the County’s young professionals.John Inverarity commented: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the past three months and have been excited by the huge potential within the Kent squad. Chris Stone is anexcellent coach and, under his guidance and Matthew Fleming’s captaincy, Iam sure that the team will soon reap the rewards of their hard work.”The Club will be considering a detailed report prepared by John Inverarityand will announce its coaching structure for the longer term in due course.

Well, after all the build-up, the speculation and the media hype, the Ashes series is finally under way. England, undefeated in five Test series, have locked horns with the best team in the world, and the encounter could hardly have got off to a more entertaining start.It’s fair to say that our preparations were disrupted, but the two injuries (to Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan) didn’t amount to a crisis. They presented two opportunities – one for a player who’s already acquainted with the England set-up, Mark Butcher, and the other for a player to come in for the first time – Nottinghamshire’s Usman Afzaal.The first day was unusual – sad though it was to lose Marcus Trescothick to the seventh ball, Butcher and Michael Atherton did really well to steady the ship with such a positive partnership. Then we had another of our collapses, but just when it looked as though we might be dismissed for less than 200, Andrew Caddick came in at No. 11 to play the innings of his life. When he arrived at the crease I urged him to be positive, not simply blocking, and my word how he responded! He cracked the bowling to all parts of the ground; it was the perfect innings for the situation, and the Edgbaston crowd loved every minute. From my point of view I was very pleased not to be left stranded on 20-odd not out; it was nice to get some runs and with Caddy blazing away at the other end, I had the chance to play a significant innings of my own.With Michael Slater opening the batting for Australia, it was no surprise that they came out guns blazing. It was an amazing end to an extraordinary day, and gave even more entertainment to the crowd.Seeing the back of Slater so early on the second day was just what the doctor ordered, but what can you say about Stephen Waugh? He simply showed once again why he’s one of the best batsmen in the world – his mental strength is absolutely phenomenal. Twin brother Mark was less fluent, and plainly not on top of his game, but we gave him every opportunity to stay there. I missed a difficult stumping chance and Trescothick couldn’t hold on to a catch at second slip – the bottom line is that you can’t afford such misses when you’re up against players of this quality.Australia are ahead on points after two days, and we need quick wickets to get back on terms. Nasser Hussain’s captained the team well and it’s good to see him restored to the side – and I’m not missing the captaincy too much after handing back the reins!

Only 11 balls were bowled in the day as rain and bad light frustrated players from Kent and Somerset on day two of their Festival Week championship match in Canterbury.Morning showers delayed the start until 12.30 before Matthew Bulbeck finally ran in to bowl the first ball of the day from the Nackington Road End as Kent resumed on their overnight score of 381 for four.The country’s leading run-scorer David Fulton, with 1,313 already to his credit, was unbeaten on 160 overnight but fenced at the first ball of the day to hear a huge appeal for a catch at the wicket by Somerset keeper Rob Turner.Umpire John Steele dismissed the appeal, allowing Fulton to take three off the over to face up to Steffan Jones’ next over from the Pavilion End.Fulton then steered a boundary to third man to move Kent’s score on to 388 for four, but with only five deliveries of the over gone the rain returned and the players trooped off for lunch.The Canterbury ground-staff started to remove the covers mid-afternoon but another torrent forced umpires Steele and Vanburn Holder to abandon the day’s play at 5pm.Somerset seamer Richard Johnson, pulled out of the match yesterday on standby for the England Test squad at Trent Bridge, returned to St Lawrence to resume his role in the match but the afternoon’s weather prevented his recall to arms.

John Reid has been backed by cricket’s governing body, the International Cricket Council, and will retain match umpiring duties during the Asian Test championship.Pakistan had protested Reid’s appointment having been critical of Reid’s judgment in fining and suspending Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood and also passing on umpiring concerns over the legality of Shoaib Akhtar’s bowling action.When Reid was appointed to the Pakistan-Bangladesh game in Multan, the Pakistan Cricket Board protested to the Asian Cricket Council, who in turn handed the protest to the ICC.However, the ICC reinforced their own policies that do not allow any member country to veto the appointment of independent referees or umpires.This policy was re-confirmed at the ICC Executive Board meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2000.ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed said: “I have spoken to the Pakistan Cricket Board and John Reid about this matter and explained the ICC’s position.”The PCB has assured me that John Reid will receive the same courtesies that are extended to all ICC officials visiting the country, and for his part Mr Reid remains keen to fulfil his appointment covering the four Test matches.”The first match in the Asian Test Championship (ATC) will be Pakistan v Bangladesh in Multan from the 29th August. ICC umpire Darrell Hair will stand in that match and the Pakistan v India Test in Lahore. Rudi Koertzen will umpire the ATC fixtures between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Colombo and India v Bangladesh in Bangalore.

It was a fairytale ending for the team that traveled the longest distance to play the MRF Buchi Babu Trophy 2001.Matthew Bell led the New Zealand ‘A’ team to triumph on Thursday the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Although unable to win the three-day match outright, the New Zealand ‘A’ team were crowned champions by virtue of a first innings lead. Having amassed 486/7, declared the Kiwis dismissed the Cricket Association of Bengal XI for a mere 214.It was a display of all-round strength that the tournament organisers would be proud of. With the bat there were strong performances from Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent and Hamish Marshall who all made centuries. With the ball it was big man Jacob Oram who triggered the CAB XI demise, scalping three top-order wickets. On the final day, however, it was leg-spinner Brooke Walker, who stole the show, picking four wickets in just 7.5 overs.CAB XI began the day on a disastrous 74/5. There was really nothing they could do to prevent a New Zealand victory. Sanjeev Sanyal (73 runs, 110 mins, 77 balls, 13 fours) delayed the inevitable, but could do nothing to boost the morale of his team. When Walker claimed the wicket of SS Paul with the CAB XI score on 214, it was all over.The New Zealand ‘A’ side got some more batting practice in, notching up 90/3 in 31 overs. Having not enforced the follow on, Matthew Horne (46 not out) managed to spend some time out in the middle.

The 1st One-Day International in the Spurs ODI Series will be played at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo and the following squad has been selected: